Top game and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A top game comprising (a) a plurality of spinner units, each of which is the combination of a spindle-type top, a holding means detachably connected to the top so as to support the top but be readily releasable from it, and a string attached to the holding means for winding around the top; and (b) a stadium having a plurality of wall receivers or receiving means for each receiving and supporting a spinner unit so that the holding means may be pulled simultaneously or in rapid succession to spin the tops and introduce them into the stadium for engagement with one another.

United States Patent Goldfarb et a1.

1451 June 27, 1972 [54] TOP GAME AND APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Adolph E.Goldfarb, Tarzana; Rene Sori- 3,408,766 11/1968 AjelO "46/65 PrimaryExaminer-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F CuttingAttorney-Sukolski & Wohlgemuth and Robert M. Ashen [57] ABSTRACT A topgame comprising (a) a plurality of spinner units, each of which is thecombination of a spindle-type top, a holding means detachably connectedto the top so as to support the top but be readily releasable from it,and a string attached to the holding means for winding around the top;and (b) a stadium having a plurality of wall receivers or receivingmeans for each receiving and supporting a spinner unit so that theholding means may be pulled simultaneously or in rapid succession tospin the tops and introduce them into the stadium for engagement withone another.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHQ'! I972 A. Eddy Goldforb, ReneSoriono,

INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

TOP GAME AND APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE This applicationis a divisional application of application Ser. No. 807,299 filed Mar.14, 1969 now abandoned.

Spindle-type tops, which generally comprise an elongated spindle and anannular disk or block portion intermediate the ends of the spindle, havebeen a favorite toy of children for a long period of time. For the mostpart, they are spun by placing the top on a surface such as the floor ora table top and either manually twisting the spindle portion or quicklypulling the free end of a string which has been wound around the spindleportion. However, even when using the preferred means of a wound stringfor spinning a top, with the child supporting the top upright with onehand and then pulling the string with the other hand, a common problem,particularly for young children, has been that the child generally lackssufficient skill to precisely time the release of the top by his hand inrelation to pulling the string. For example, if the string is pulledsubstantially before the top is released by the hand, a major portion ofthe spin imparted thereto is absorbed by the frictional engagement ofthe top with the hand so that the top will spin weakly and for only ashort time. On the other hand, if the top is released by the childs handbefore the string is pulled, the top may tip over and not be spun at allwhen the string is then pulled, or a vigorous pull of the string mayitself upset the unsupported top and send it flying across the room.This would prove frustrating and irritating to the child and would limithis enjoyment of and desire to play with the top.

A number of games have been devised wherein the top is only part of thegame and is utilized in various fashions such as to knock down otherobjects or another top. Examples of such games are illustrated by US.Pat. No. 505,826 issued Oct. 3, I893 to John A. Haigh and US. Pat. No.1,405,705 issued Feb. 7, I922 to Henry E. Ankener and Lawrence Demarco.Typically in such a game, a receiver means was provided to give lateralsupport to the top while the string was being pulled. The receiver meansmight include an upright wall portion with an aperture therethrough forthe string. The top would be positioned on one side of the wall with thefree end of the string extending through the aperture to the other sideof the wall where it could be grasped and pulled by the child. If thetop would stay in upright position against the side of the wall untilthe string was pulled, the pulled string would tend to hold the topupright and against the wall until the string was unwound and releasedfrom the top. The problem was to maintain the top in upright positionuntil the child pulled the string. The prior games provided some limitedand partial lateral support to the top by virtue of 'open notches at thereceiver means. These were generally ineffective and inadequate to keepthe tops from falling frequently, to the great irritation andfrustration of the child. Applicant is not aware of any such prior gamewhich attempted to give full lateral support to the tops. It is evenquestionable if such full lateral support by the receiver means isdesirable since it would impair the release and desired lateral movementof the spinning top, as well as amount of spin. For example, while thereceiver means might include a simple snap ring which would engage thetop and maintain it upright, even if the snap ring could be configuredto release the spinning top, a great deal of the rotational energy ofthe spinning top would be absorbed in gaining its release. Whilecomplicated and costly release mechanisms might be developed for thispurpose, it is of course preferred to maintain relatively low cost andsimplicity for this type of product. Thus, the prior games stillrequired the use of the childs hand to help maintain the top uprightuntil the string could be pulled, and therefore did not really solve theproblem, particularly for younger children, of timing the release of thetop to the pulling of the string.

In addition to the problems discussed above, the child frequently hadtrouble keeping the end of the string in place when he started windingthe string around the top; he also experienced problems in winding thestring in the desired or preferred manner. Consequently, the presentinvention contemplates and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a novel and improved combination of a top of the type designedto have a string wound around it and pulled to spin the top, andspinning means operative to support the top in upright position bothbefore and while the string is being pulled, to facilitate the rapidpull of the string, and to release the top so as to minimizeinterference with and reduction of the spin imparted to the top.

The present invention further contemplates and it is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a novel and improved top game wherein aplurality of tops may be spun and introduced into a common areasimultaneously or in rapid succession.

The present invention further contemplates and it is another object ofthe present invention to provide a top that is designed to have a stringeasily and releasably attached thereto and simply wound thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate apreferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, referencewill now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specificembodiment of the present invention. Such drawings should not beconstrued as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a top which is a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the top shown in FIG. 1 taken alongthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the holding means of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the stadium of the present invention showingone spinner unit in place ready for operation;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the stadium shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along the line8-8 of FIG. 6.

In general, a preferred fonn of the present invention involves aspindle-type top 10 adapted to have a string or cord 37 wound around itsspindle and then pulled to spin the top. Spinning means include anelongated holding means 30 to which the free end of the wound string issecured. At one end the holding means is provided with a pulling handle33 while at its other or inner end it is provided with connecting meanssuch as a resilient snap ring 35 for releasably grasping the top. Thespinning means also include a receiver means 48 which has an uprightwall portion 46 for resisting lateral movement of the top in at leastthe rearward direction while leaving it free for lateral movement in theforward direction. The wall portion 46 has an aperture 51 through whichthe holding means 30 and the string 37 pass. The child simply and withone hand grasps the handle 33 of the holding means 30 and pulls rapidly,generally away or rearwardly from the top. The top 10 is held in desiredupright position against the wall portion 46 by the holding means 30until the holding means virtually simultaneously disengages from the topand begins to pull on the string. Further pull of the string holds thetop against the wall portion 46 of the receiver means 48 as well asimparting spinning to the top, until the end of the string is reachedand the top spins outwardly from the receiver means. A plurality oftops, holding means and receiver means may be provided. This permits asingle child to introduce a number of spinning tops in rapid successioninto a common area to engage each other or other objects. It alsopermits play by several children who may simultaneously or in some rapidsequence introduce a number of the spinning tops into an area.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 the top comprises a generally circular block11 which in the preferred embodiment is specifically a disk having aplurality of flat sides or edges 12 which form a corresponding number ofcomers to facilitate sharp contact when the spinning top engages asimilar spinning top. Extending coaxially of the disk 11 in bothdirections is a spindle 13 having a rounded top 14 and a rounded bottom15; however, the disk 11 is positioned closer to the top 14. The disk 11has an annular groove 22 formed therein to increase the rotationalmomentum of the top while decreasing the total weight of the top.

The spindle 13 has a circular flange 16 with a notch 17 therein with twocircumferential channel means 18 adjacent thereto; one for winding thestring around and one for receiving the holding means 30. The channelmeans 18 for winding the string around is an annular recess 19 adjacentto and below the flange 16. The recess 19 has a plurality of axiallyextending ribs 20 therein which increase the frictional engagementbetween the top and the string. Spaced from the upper side of the flange16 is a guide flange 21 which forms between it and the flange 16 thesecond channel means 18 for receiving the holding means 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the holding means has a shaft 32, the ring pullinghandle 33 at one end and a pair of flexible prongs 34 at the oppositeend which are curved to form the recess or resilient snap ring 35adapted to detachably connect to the spindle 13 of the top 10. The shaft32 has a hole 36 through which is threaded a string 37 having knots 38at opposite ends. Hole 36 is tapered to facilitate threading the string37 therethrough, and to lock one of the knots within the hole.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, the stadium 40 consists of a base 41 havinga rail 42 around the edge with a plurality of small numbered sockets 43to facilitate the score keeping of the game by inserting pegs (notshown) in the sockets 43 and advancing each peg each time a particularplayer is successful. In addition, mounted on the base 41 are diagonalribs 44 which also contain large sockets 45 for holding tops which arenot in use. Tangential to and within the rail 42 is the circular wall 46of the stadium 40 which encloses the concave central area 47. Receivingmeans 48 is formed integrally with wall 46 by means of verticallyextending side posts 49 and a cross bar 50 therebetween. The posts 49and cross bar 50 form an aperture 51 which permits access to the stadiumthrough the receiving means 48. Formed on the inner side of the crossbar 50 and the wall 46 are axially aligned semicircular slots 52 and 53respectively, with the lower slot 53 having a floor 54.

To operate the spinner unit formed by the combination of the top 10 andthe string 37 and the holding means 30 of the present invention, theknot 38 in the free end of the string 37 is engaged in the notch 17 ofthe flange 16 and the string 37 is wound in the recess 19 until the snapring 35 is adjacent to the top 10. Next the prongs 34 are snapped overthe spindle 13 between the flange 16 and the guide flange 21 so that theholding means 30 holds the top 10 and is maintained adjacent to thewound string 37. The ring 33 on holding means 30 is then passed throughthe aperture 51 in the stadium 40 from the inside to the outside, andthe bottom 15 of the spindle is received in the slot 53 resting on thefloor 54 while the portion of the spindle 13 between the flange 21 andthe disk 11 is received in the slot 52. When in such position, by virtueof the connection between the holding means 30 and the top, and due tothe weight of the ring 33 of the holding means, the top 10 is maintainedin that position for injection onto the central area 47 of the stadium40. The extension of the ring 33 to the exterior of the stadium permitsthe holding means 30 to be manipulated externally of the stadium.Consequently, to spin the top one merely jerks suddenly on the holdingmeans 30 which causes the top to rotate rapidly; the top is kept fromlifting up and out of slot 53 by flange 21 engaging the bottom edge ofslot 52. When the string is fully unwound the top is released into thecentral area 47 of the stadium 40 to spin there around in a weavingpattern. If one or more additional tops are simultaneously injected intothe stadium, the tops engage in a multitude and variety of collisionswhich can result in the tops either being simply knocked over orcompletely knocked out of the stadium. While the game played therewithcan have a variety of rules, commonly points are scored for knockingover the opponents top or knocking the opponent's top out of thestadium.

It will be appreciated that many other specific embodiments of thepresent invention will be obvious to one skilled in the art in view ofthe disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Forexample, the circular block instead of being a disk may be a conoid or acylinder. Likewise, the arrangement of the notch flange and the channelmeans may be varied as to the location and sequence as long as theaforementioned functions are performed. Also, the stadium may havevarious configurations and locations of receiving means.

The illustrated spinner unit provides the combination of a top, aholding means adapted to be detachably connected to the top, a stringattached to such holding means which can be wound around the top, and areceiver or reaction means against which the top is pulled and permittedto rotate in the upright position until the string is unwound. Thiscombination permits the top to be held by a single holding means withthe string wound thereon and insures that the holding means is detachedgenerally simultaneously with the jerking of the string to spin the top,with the top being maintained in the upright position up to and duringthe unwinding of the string. Consequently, spin is imparted to the topwith maximum effciency and reliability.

It will be understood that the foregoing descriptions and examples areonly illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended thatthe invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations andmodifications of the present invention which come within the scope ofthe following claims or to which the present invention is readilysusceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure are considered part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A spinner unit comprising a top, a holding means detachably connectedto said top, and a string secured at one end to said holding means forreleasing said top relative to said holding means and the other endwound around said top in such a manner that the string will impart spinto the top when the holding means is disconnected from the top.

2. A spinner unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said top includes aspindle, and said holding means is elongated for being grasped to pullthe holding means and is provided at one end with resilient prongsforming a snap ring which is detachably connected to the spindle of thetop.

3. A spinner unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said top comprises agenerally circular block and a spindle extending coaxially from saidblock, said spindle having a flange with a notch therein for receivingthe other end of said string and a circumferential channel meansadjacent each side of said flange, one channel means being for receivingthe wound string and the other channel means being for receiving saidholding means.

4. A spinner unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said one channel meansfor receiving the wound string comprises an annular recess provided withat least one axially extending rib to increase frictional contactbetween said one channel means and said wound string when the string ispulled.

5. A spinner unit as defined in claim 1 in combination with at least oneadditional spinner unit, each of said spinner units comprising a tophaving a spindle portion and a generally circular block portion, eachblock portion having flat edge portions.

6. in combination:

an easily operated top which is comprised of a generally circular blockand a spindle extending from the axis of said block, said spindle havinga flange with a notch therein and circumferential channel means adjacenteach side of said flange, one channel means being for receiving a stringwound therearound and the other channel means for receiving a holdingmeans, and

a string wound about said spindle for imparting spinning motion to saidtop body and a manually operable holder attached to said string andreleasably connected to said top body, said holder connected to said topbody serving to retain said string on said spindle, said holder whenreleased from said top body and pulled relative thereto serving tounwind said string and to impart said spinning motion to said top body.

9. A top as defined in claim 6 but having a configuration which issymmetrical about the axis of said block.

1. A spinner unit comprising a top, a holding means detachably connectedto said top, and a string secured at one end to said holding means forreleasing said top relative to said holding means and the other endwound around said top in such a manner that the string will impart spinto the top when the holding means is disconnected from the top.
 2. Aspinner unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said top includes a spindle,and said holding means is elongated for being grasped to pull theholding means and is provided at one end with resilient prongs forming asnap ring which is detachably connected to the spindle of the top.
 3. Aspinner unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said top comprises agenerally circular block and a spindle extending coaxially from saidblock, said spindle having a flange with a notch therein for receivingthe other end of said string and a circumferential channel meansadjacent each side of said flange, one channel means being for receivingthe wound string and the other channel means being for receiving saidholding means.
 4. A spinner unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said onechannel means for receiving the wound string comprises an annular recessprovided with at least one axially extending rib to increase frictionalcontact between said one channel means and said wound string when thestring is pulled.
 5. A spinner unit as defined in claim 1 in combinationwith at least one additional spinner unit, each of said spinner unitscomprising a top having a spindle portion and a generally circular blockportion, each block portion having flat edge portions.
 6. Incombination: an easily operated top which is comprised of a generallycircular block and a spindle extending from the axis of said block, saidspindle having a flange with a notch therein and circumferential channelmeans adjacent each side of said flange, one channel means being forreceiving a string wound therearound and the other channel means forreceiving a holding means, and an elongated holding member having aresilient snap ring at one end for releasably connecting to said spindleof the top, whereby a string could be secured at one end to said holdingmember and wound around said spindle for subsequent unwinding to spinsaid top.
 7. A top as defined in claim 6 wherein said one channel meansis an annular recess adjacent to said notch flange, said recess beingprovided with at least two circumferentially spaced, axially extendingribs.
 8. A spinner unit comprising a top body including a spindle, astring wound about said spindle for imparting spinning motion to saidtop body and a manually operable holder attached to said string andreleasably connected to said top body, said holder connected to said topbody serving to retain said string on said spindle, said holder whenreleased from said top body and pulled relative thereto serving tounwind said string and to impart said spinning motion to said top body.9. A top as defined in claim 6 but having a configuration which issymmetrical about the axis of said block.